Wireless communication controlled battery charging station

Abstract

An electronic device sends a wireless signal to a charging station indicating that charging of a battery of the electronics device is to commence. The electronic device determines whether charging of the battery is to continue. In response to a determination that charging of the battery is not to continue, the electronic device sends a wireless signal to the charging station indicating that charging of the battery is to cease.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method to charge a battery, the method comprising:
 sending, by an electronic device, a wireless signal to an inductive charging station indicating that inductive charging of a battery of the electronic device is to commence, wherein the inductive charging station is configured to generate an electromagnetic field and the electronic device is configured to convert at least a portion of that electromagnetic field into electrical current; 
 executing, by the electronic device, a test of the battery using the inductive charging station, wherein the test (i) generates data for a first period of inductive charging of the battery and (ii) partially charges the battery; 
 generating, by the electronic device, a profile of the battery based on data generated during the first period of inductive charging, wherein the profile indicates a possible type of the battery; 
 initiating, by the electronic device, a second period of inductive charging of the battery using a first type of inductive charging that is associated with the possible type of the battery; 
 determining, by the electronic device, whether the first type of inductive charging of the battery is to continue based on a match, to within a threshold, between (i) determined changes in characteristics of the battery during the second period of inductive charging and (ii) expected changes in characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery; and 
 responsive to a determination that inductive charging of the battery is not to continue, sending, by the electronic device, a wireless signal to the inductive charging station indicating that inductive charging of the battery is to cease. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 determining, by the electronic device, that a type of the battery is indicated by a pre-existing charging profile included in the electronic device; and 
 determining a type of inductive charging to be applied during the test based, in part, on the pre-existing charging profile. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , the method further comprising:
 generating, by the electronic device, an expected charging profile of the battery based, at least in part, on a result of the test, wherein the expected charging profile includes expected changes in physical and electrical characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the electronic device, a configuration for the second period of inductive charging based, at least in part, on a determined amount of inductive charging to be applied to the battery such that a predefined charge of the battery is reached. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that a threshold degree of mismatch exist between (i) determined changes in characteristics of the battery during the second period of inductive charging and (ii) expected changes in characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery, determining, by the electronic device, (i) a third type of inductive charging to be applied to the battery and (ii) a third time period of inductive charging such that a predicted charge of the battery after the third period will exceed a threshold, wherein the third type of inductive charging is indicated by a wireless signal sent to the inductive charging station. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a determination of whether inductive charging of the battery is to continue is further based on a threshold for a characteristic of the battery being exceeded, the threshold being (i) based on the profile of the battery and (ii) configured for at least one of a temperature of the battery, a voltage of the battery, an electrical current of the battery, or a resistance of the battery. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , the method further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that the predefined charge of the battery has not been reached, sending, by the electronic device, a wireless signal to the inductive charging station indicating that inductive charging of the battery is to continue. 
 
     
     
       8. A computer program product to charge a battery, the computer program product comprising:
 one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
 program instructions to send a wireless signal to an inductive charging station indicating that inductive charging of a battery of the electronic device is to commence, wherein the inductive charging station is configured to generate an electromagnetic field and the electronic device is configured to convert at least a portion of that electromagnetic field into electrical current; 
 program instructions to execute a test of the battery using the inductive charging station, wherein the test (i) generates data for a first period of inductive charging of the battery and (ii) partially charges the battery; 
 program instructions to generate a profile of the battery based on data generated during the first period of inductive charging, wherein the profile indicates a possible type of the battery; 
 program instructions to initiate a second period of inductive charging of the battery using a first type of inductive charging that is associated with the possible type of the battery; 
 program instructions to determine whether the first type of inductive charging of the battery is to continue based on a match, to within a threshold, between (i) determined changes in characteristics of the battery during the second period of inductive charging and (ii) expected changes in characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery; and 
 program instructions to respond to a determination that inductive charging of the battery is not to continue by sending a wireless signal to the inductive charging station indicating that inductive charging of the battery is to cease. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The computer program product of  claim 8 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to determine that a type of the battery is indicated by a pre-existing charging profile included in the electronic device; and 
 program instructions to determine a type of inductive charging to be applied during the test based, in part, on the pre-existing charging profile. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer program product of  claim 9 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to generate an expected charging profile of the battery based, at least in part, on a result of the test, wherein the expected charging profile includes expected changes in physical and electrical characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery. 
 
     
     
       11. The computer program product of  claim 8 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to determine a configuration for the second period of inductive charging based, at least in part, on a determined amount of inductive charging to be applied to the battery such that a predefined charge of the battery is reached. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer program product of  claim 8 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to respond to a determination that a threshold degree of mismatch exist between (i) determined changes in characteristics of the battery during the second period of inductive charging and (ii) expected changes in characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery by determining (i) a third type of inductive charging to be applied to the battery and (ii) a third time period of inductive charging such that a predicted charge of the battery after the third period will exceed a threshold, wherein the third type of inductive charging is indicated by a wireless signal sent to the inductive charging station. 
 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein determination of whether inductive charging of the battery is to continue is further based on a threshold for a characteristic of the battery being exceeded, the threshold being (i) based on the profile of the battery and (ii) configured for at least one of a temperature of the battery, a voltage of the battery, an electrical current of the battery, or a resistance of the battery. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 11 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to respond to a determination that the predefined charge of the battery has not been reached by sending a wireless signal to the inductive charging station indicating that inductive charging of the battery is to continue. 
 
     
     
       15. A computer system to charge a battery, the computer system comprising:
 one or more computer processors; 
 one or more computer readable storage medium;
 program instructions to send a wireless signal to an inductive charging station indicating that inductive charging of a battery of the electronic device is to commence, wherein the inductive charging station is configured to generate an electromagnetic field and the electronic device is configured to convert at least a portion of that electromagnetic field into electrical current; 
 program instructions to execute a test of the battery using the inductive charging station, wherein the test (i) generates data for a first period of inductive charging of the battery and (ii) partially charges the battery; 
 program instructions to generate a profile of the battery based on data generated during the first period of inductive charging, wherein the profile indicates a possible type of the battery; 
 program instructions to initiate a second period of inductive charging of the battery using a first type of inductive charging that is associated with the possible type of the battery; 
 program instructions to determine whether the first type of inductive charging of the battery is to continue based on a match, to within a threshold, between (i) determined changes in characteristics of the battery during the second period of inductive charging and (ii) expected changes in characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery; and 
 program instructions to respond to a determination that inductive charging of the battery is not to continue by sending a wireless signal to the inductive charging station indicating that inductive charging of the battery is to cease. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The computer system of  claim 15 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to determine that a type of the battery is indicated by a pre-existing charging profile included in the electronic device; and 
 program instructions to determine a type of inductive charging to be applied during the test based, in part, on the pre-existing charging profile. 
 
     
     
       17. The computer system of  claim 16 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to generate an expected charging profile of the battery based, at least in part, on a result of the test, wherein the expected charging profile includes expected changes in physical and electrical characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer system of  claim 15 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to determine a configuration for the second period of inductive charging based, at least in part, on a determined amount of inductive charging to be applied to the battery such that a predefined charge of the battery is reached. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer system of  claim 15 , the program instructions further comprising:
 program instructions to respond to a determination that a threshold degree of mismatch exist between (i) determined changes in characteristics of the battery during the second period of inductive charging and (ii) expected changes in characteristics during charging for the possible type of the battery by determining (i) a third type of inductive charging to be applied to the battery and (ii) a third time period of inductive charging such that a predicted charge of the battery after the third period will exceed a threshold, wherein the third type of inductive charging is indicated by a wireless signal sent to the inductive charging station. 
 
     
     
       20. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein determination of whether inductive charging of the battery is to continue is further based on a threshold for a characteristic of the battery being exceeded, the threshold being (i) based on the profile of the battery and (ii) configured for at least one of a temperature of the battery, a voltage of the battery, an electrical current of the battery, or a resistance of the battery.